Lathe Headstock Extender to Machine Larger Diameters.

Hi all, I did a modification a number of years ago to extend the swing capability of my lathe from 330mm turning diameter to around 700mm turning diameter without physically modifying the lathe to achieve this. It was completed a number of years ago and has allowed me to do jobs I wouldn't have otherwise been able to do given the physical restrictions of the lathe. With very limited space in my shop I like to be able to adapt my existing gear to do work that does push the boundaries of its design capabilities. I do my due diligence on this type of design and run the numbers to ensure everything runs within a safe margin to avoid any stress/strain or damage. A VFD is a requirement on this particular setup to allow a timed acceleration rate of around 5 seconds to be quickly programmed in to avoid any strain on the headstock gearing. Being able to turn up Turret Extenders for my mill and rear wheels for Traction Engines can all be done in house very easily.
Cam

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNtILebVjzM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVnC4hBKziQ

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Thanks Me2! We've added your Lathe Headstock Extender to our Lathe Accessories category,
as well as to your builder page: Me2's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-lathe-headstock-extender"> <img src="/uploads/227419/homemade-lathe-headstock-extender.jpeg"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-lathe-headstock-extender">Lathe Headstock Extender</a> <span> by <a href="https://www.homemadetools.net/builder/Me2">Me2</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='https://www.homemadetools.net/tag/lathe'>lathe</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>
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great work!!!Ive been thinking about making some risers for my small lathe to raise the headstock&tailstock...someday..or ...not. I may just leep an eye out for a bigger heaver lathe. keep up the good work!!

Congratulations on a clever idea I have never seen before. It is nice when one does not have to damage a machine to accomplish a big difference in capability.
Rob

Impressive

Epic, on at least three levels.
Aside being an out-of-the-sphere [per Frank S] re-thinking to increase lathe swing.
An hour and a quarter of full on viewing, real content of development and build.
And NO commercials.

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Originally Posted by Toolmaker51

Epic, on at least three levels.
Aside being an out-of-the-sphere [per Frank S] re-thinking to increase lathe swing.
An hour and a quarter of full on viewing, real content of development and build.
And NO commercials.

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Hey now, I have been thinking that I may need to construct one of these for my 54inch American to say 108 inches with a 20 inch through hole with a double ended spindle ought to be just about large enough I should think.
No seriously all kidding aside I thought this was a great build. Years ago I mounted a pair of 6" lead bearing pillow blocks on the top of my W&S #5 turret lathe so I could hang a 48" diameter face plate on it with a 6 inch shaft to turn some brake drums for a draw works used on an oil drilling rig the tricky part was in setting up a tool holder mounted to 2 of the turret faces offset nearly 18 inches outboard of the turret center and 15 inches above where the normal centerline was.
I'm a firm believer that you can do almost anything you set your mind to accomplish but having a massive hunk of IRON at my disposal helped

Yep Frank S; ingenuity, creativity and capability are important. But the greatest resource is a foundation, such as a massive hunk of iron.

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Originally Posted by Toolmaker51

Yep Frank S; ingenuity, creativity and capability are important. But the greatest resource is a foundation, such as a massive hunk of iron.

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It helps to have a limited vocabulary sometimes.
like not knowing what the word can't means

Excellent job and a very good video, I cant add much more to the praise you have had so far.
This reminds me of a similar idea by Myfordboy for turning the flywheels of his model engines
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ivu...NC9gjgYrzLfyMQ.
He went the casting route but then he is a prolific metal caster.

I like the MDF backing plate on the faceplate allowing him to do the whole edge and even chamfer the back side.

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Originally Posted by Frank S

It helps to have a limited vocabulary sometimes.
like not knowing what the word can't means

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can't..spelled rong of coarse, but it means..a little off kilter....witch is how evolution progresses. if everybody went down the straight &narrow path that somebody else who thinks they are the leader maps out....we would of died out long ago or still be in caves. get outside the box and start thinking!!!! and stay there!!!

Sound business advice.
The trick; allow others to retain "can't" in their vocabulary.

Then "can't" can = $$

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Toolmaker51

Sound business advice.
The trick; allow others to retain "can't" in their vocabulary.

Then "can't" can = $$

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Absolutely, my neighbor the mechanic welder machinist seems to find something almost every week that fit in the not able to do this himself category so I wind up having to save the day for him. It has gotten to the point that some of his customers know he is going to bring what ever it is to me so they just drop their problem off at my door step for me to repair then I bill my neighbor and let him collect from the customer. That way I am not siphoning his customers away from him I don't want them to become my customers, since I refuse to rig up portable again.

Thanks Toolmaker51. Glad you enjoyed it. I must admit I don't like having to constantly turn ad's off when I'm watching something.
Cam

great Jhon
greetings from Brazil
Celso Ari

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Originally Posted by Me2

Thanks Toolmaker51. Glad you enjoyed it. I must admit I don't like having to constantly turn ad's off when I'm watching something.
Cam

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Hi Cam, I have a bit of a silly question about your video, I found it on YouTube but after doing some more searching realised you had posted the plans up here.

I've been given a Myford Super 7 which is the ideal size for my garage, I am going to need to turn larger diameters than the 7 inches. now my lathe and your friend John who's skills are just out of this world as are his engines! Are pretty much the same important dimensions, Would John mind sharing the design or his swing adapter?.

I've got someone here willing to help make it but it's the all important plans for a known working solution. Sorry to be a pain and ask.

Keep up the amazing videos, I've been watching your casting ones lately.

Tim